Delicious Vegan Apple Cider Doughnuts Recipe

This post for the vegan apple cider doughnuts was originally posted on the 12th of September 2022.

Whenever autumn starts, all you can hear me talk about is pumpkin. Whether that’s a pumpkin spice latte or a pumpkin pie, I am just going to be taking it all in. But Fred, well… She is not much of a pumpkin person, sadly, which means we always try to make stuff we all love. And it’s precisely what happened with these vegan apple cider doughnuts.

Fred has been obsessing over these for a while now, and of course, Cristina and I have been very much intrigued by them, thinking of walking around an apple orchard apple picking and such. How can you pass on the opportunity to have the most autumnal doughnut ever? These vegan apple cider doughnuts are so yummy and soft, golden brown fresh donuts which are to die for. You’ll be grinning from ear to ear once you try them.

Now, I am not sure what you know about those vegan apple cider doughnuts, but I can tell you what I assumed about them before making them. I thought you would use cider to make these, but apparently, that is not the case. At the very least not with this recipe for the vegan apple cider doughnuts right here. So I also assumed they would be tasting a little weird, maybe alcoholic. But boy was I wrong! 

These little golden brown pillows of joy – as we like to call the vegan apple cider doughnuts – are relatively easy to make, vegan and fluffy, to be enjoyed hot off the fryer. Because yes, you cannot call it a doughnut (or donut, as you may) until you fry it. I hope we have an understanding here?! Just make sure you have your deep-fry thermometer at the ready.

Vegan Apple Cider Doughnuts or donuts?

First off – is it doughnut or donut?

Of course, the biggest question ever – one that gets down to the British or American English version. I guess you do you, wherever you are from and what kind of influence you have if English is not your first language. 

Donut has become a variant of doughnut in most dictionaries. It has been introduced in text since the mid-20th century, and you’ll recognise it from places like Dunkin Donuts. Of course, the accepted version in a dictionary is doughnut, the British English one. But, you’ll be able to use the shortened American English one without issues as well. So, again, it is really up to you and what you fancy.

What is so special about vegan apple cider doughnuts?

Apple cider doughnuts are a traditional food item from Autumn. This has all to do with the harvest of apples happening in this season and the distinctive apple flavor they have. They are traditionally from America and are usually eaten accompanied by apple cider. Sometimes, you can find versions infused with apple cider too! But what makes these fresh vegan apple cider doughnuts so special? Well, let me tell you right now, they are so very different from any other doughnut, and just know there is no donut pan involved.

The homemade vegan apple cider doughnuts you are about to make are crispy and not soggy or oily. The inside of one is soft and cakey, very much light and sweet – but not too sweet! The tasting profile is a lot more complicated than describing it as sugary and sweet. The apples make it tangy and tart, too, so you’ll definitely be tasting apple cider flavor and apple butter notes too. The cinnamon sugar mixture also helps the texture of these homemade donuts, making it a recipe you really need to get making immediately.

With apples being one of the symbols of autumn – or fall, as you may want to call it! – you absolutely need to make these vegan apple cider doughnuts soon. They became a tradition in the Midwest and East Coast of America, where doughnut shops, apple orchards and cornfield mazes are aplenty. They were invented by Adolph Levitt in the 1950s, or so it says online.

When is it apple season? And what can you do with them?

Apples happen to be starting their season in late July through to December. Of course, prime time will always be September to November, especially if you’ll be baking with them. I mean, have you seen our apple pie? We just love doing all the things with fruit. And apples happen to be some of our favourites when it comes to baking. We will have to share our mum’s apple cake one day, it is absolutely delicious – and can be made with gluten free flour too!

But it’s not all savoury recipes when it comes to apples, as apple sauce goes extremely well with pork, and many other meats too. I know, we’re currently dealing with a vegan recipe, but we’re not vegan ourselves, so…

Are apples good for you, I hear you ask. And yes, of course they are!

This nutritious fruit offers multiple health benefits. Apples may lower your chance of developing cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Research says apples may also help you lose weight while improving your gut and brain health (Healthline). Among the benefits we can find the following:

1. Nutrient-rich: Apples are a good source of essential nutrients such as dietary fibre, vitamin C, potassium, and various antioxidants. These nutrients are beneficial for overall health and well-being.
2. Dietary Fiber: Apples are high in dietary fibre, particularly soluble fibre called pectin. Fibre aids in digestion, promotes a feeling of fullness, and helps regulate bowel movements.
3. Heart Health: The soluble fibre in apples can help lower cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease. The antioxidants in apples may also contribute to cardiovascular health.
4. Blood Sugar Regulation: The fibre and polyphenols in apples can help stabilize blood sugar levels, making them a suitable choice for those with diabetes or those seeking to manage their blood sugar.
5. Weight Management: Apples are relatively low in calories and high in fibre, making them a satisfying and healthy snack that may aid in weight management.
6. Hydration: Apples have a high water content, which can contribute to overall hydration.
7. Oral Health: Chewing apples can stimulate saliva production, which helps reduce tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria in the mouth.

To get the most nutritional benefits from apples, it’s best to eat them whole with the skin, as many of the nutrients and fibre are concentrated there. Let’s check out this apple cider donut recipe then.

What is apple cider?

Once again, the stark difference between the USA and the UK comes through with this. Apple cider, as you know it in the US, it’s non-other than the unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic drink made from apples. It has a darker, caramel colour compared to apple juice, as it’s unfiltered. It’s also very much a seasonal drink, meaning you won’t be able to find it all year round in shops, and it’s very much a tangy apple cider drink. It has a sweet, crisp taste and can be served hot or cold. It’s one of those fall flavors you can’t get enough of.

But what do we mean with apple cider here in the UK? Well, here apple cider is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. It’s very much a West Country delicacy, but widely available all through the UK and the Republic of Ireland. By law, it must contain at least 35% apple juice, either fresh or from concentrate. And when the label says real cider, it must be at least 90% of fresh apple juice!

In a funny twist of events, cider can also be commonly known as scrumpy and it’s available pretty much everywhere you go: from pubs to shops. What we then meant initially is what our American cousins would refer to as hard cider, which is fermented and alcoholic as a result.

And what about apple cider vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar is, of course, a vinegar made from fermented apple juice, a process which is very similar to what you do with hard cider. It’s made by crushing apples and squeezing the juice out, and then bacteria and yeast are added to start the alcoholic fermentation process. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar, which gives it a sour taste.

We love to use apple cider vinegar in salads and stuff. And as you probably know, it’s used in vegan baking for its leavening and flavour-enhancing properties. It helps to activate the baking soda and raise light sponges while also adding a slight tang in flavour. It is also a good replacer of eggs, since it replaces their moisture and helps with giving a lift to your bakes now that large eggs are not there to help.

But like with everything else, make sure you consume apple cider vinegar in moderation. No health benefits can actually be attributed to it, and there are actually more health concerns than benefits here! But nothing to do with this apple cider doughnut recipe.

The one apple cider vinegar we love to use is this one right here from Willy’s. This is organic and raw and contains the mother. The mother here is none other than what will help you kickstart the fermentation process should you decide to make your own vinegar at home.

How do I make these doughnuts vegan?

These vegan apple cider doughnuts can be made vegan easily by swapping out ingredients like eggs and milk, to start. Everything else is pretty much an okay ingredient for the vegans in your life, so go ahead and see how we replace these.

Eggs – the easiest way to replace eggs in this recipe is to use a mixture of flaxseeds and water. When preparing the vegan flax egg, you will usually go for a 1:1 ratio of water to flaxseeds. But, sometimes that would not be enough to collate everything together, a bit like in this case. For 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseeds, we will use 2 ½ tablespoons of water. A little looser, maybe, but enough so to make this dough an easy one to deal with when shaping.

Milk – Of course, milk is what you also need to replace. And with all the options available nowadays, the world is literally your oyster! We have opted for oat milk as it’s very much a taste you can easily hide with the rest of the ingredients, but I am sure soya milk or even almond milk can work brilliantly here.

What ingredients do I need to make vegan apple cider doughnuts?

I know what you are thinking, why couldn’t we leave these vegan apple cider doughnuts alone as they are great as they are? Well, I know – but our flatmate is vegan and we always try to give her the chance to stuff her face with us because we’re nice like that. So yes, you will not find the traditional ingredients like butter – melted vegan butter is not a part of this recipe! – or baking powder or baking soda.

We are going to make these the proper way, no baking donut recipe here for you today. So put your doughnut pans to the side, take out that large pot and fill it with vegetable oil because we’re about to be deep frying this perfect fall treat. Rolling pin, donut cutter and enough frying oil on medium heat, let’s go.

We are going to use freshly grated apples for these vegan apple cider doughnuts, to start, and as your egg replacer, you’ll be using a mixture of flaxseed and water. Then you will need apple sauce, of course, vanilla extract and alternative milk. We used Oatly Barista because it’s our favourite, but you can use any milk of your choice, like soy milk, rice milk or almond milk.

The dried yeast here is a must (make sure it is in date!) as we’re making a yeast-raised dough and a cloudy apple juice – or sweet fresh apple cider if you can get your hands on that! A drop of apple cider vinegar is also needed, together with the dry ingredients: flour (all purpose flour is best, but you can use cake flour too), salt, light brown sugar and warm spices: cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg. And last, but most definitely not least, the cinnamon sugar topping – or cinnamon sugar coating. The whole family will love these.

How do I make these vegan apple cider doughnuts?

Because we will be frying these easy apple cider donuts, we are going to develop the gluten in the dough as we work it. Yes, we are not going to make baked apple cider donuts, I am afraid, but you definitely can find plenty of recipes online should you wish to do that, including this one for baked lemon poppy seed donuts. The vegan apple cider donut holes on the other hand will be aplenty too, so you know it’s a win-win. Think of these beautiful warm donuts you won’t be able to resist, a bit of a taste of home if you’re American. Lush warm apple cider flavor donuts are on order, always.

You will start by mixing the vegan flax egg and grating your apples. We left the skin on those, but you can choose to remove it. Then we warmed the milk and activated the dried yeast, but make sure the milk is not too hot or you’ll end up killing it! 

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large mixing bowl, you will mix the dough. As you do this, you will also realise whether or not you might need less or more flour, because it can really depend on the moisture of your apples and apple sauce. While you do not want to have a tough, hard-to-work dough, make sure it is not too sticky or you won’t be able to roll and shape the apple cider doughnuts.

When it comes to frying the vegan apple cider doughnuts, you will need your oil to reach 180°C and stay constantly at this temperature. It would be ideal to use a deep-fry thermometer both for your safety and to avoid burning your vegan apple cider doughnuts on the outside and having no cooked middle. And last, after letting the donuts and donut holes dry on a wire rack covered in paper towels, possibly the nicest step in all of this is the sugar coating!

Roll them and the doughnut holes in the cinnamon sugar mixture as soon as humanly possible, but do not burn your fingers – you need these to hold the doughnut as you stuff your face later. This extra step is not required, of course, but highly recommended for this great fall treat. Otherwise, you can use a small saucepan and create a beautiful apple cider glaze, if you fancy.

Let’s check out the recipe for these vegan apple cider doughnuts then.

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Tips & tricks for these vegan apple cider doughnuts.

I have mentioned on the recipe card for the vegan apple cider doughnuts you might need extra flour. Because of the apples and the moisture they release once grated and while in contact with the rest of the ingredients, you might need more or less than stated. Baking it’s a science, yes, but like everything else, ingredients cannot be the exact same everywhere. Manufacturers and altitude, among other things, can impact a recipe so much. And while this is a story for a different post, I needed to mention that even in this recipe for the vegan apple cider doughnuts.

When you shape the vegan apple cider doughnuts, make sure you lay them on a tray covered with baking paper. You will be able to cut up the squares under each doughnut to help you put them in the oil! When I showed Fred she could do that so easily, it was a bingo! moment. The paper will release the vegan apple cider doughnuts as it gets in contact with the oil, and you will remove them using some tongs. Easy peasy, delicious vegan apple cider doughnuts squeezy!

Replacements and such in the vegan apple cider doughnuts recipe.

You can make this vegan eggless apple cider donut with gluten free flour, but make sure you use your favourite gluten free flour blend. You will also need to make sure the yeast you use is gluten free! Most dried yeasts are naturally gluten free, but some manufacturers might add wheat so check this too.

We have used common red apples, and I am sure any apple can work here, even Braeburns. Make sure you do not go crazy on the grated apples as I did: I ended up adding so much flour! My actual notes show I used 4 cups and three-quarters, so bear this in mind.

When it comes to the milk in these vegan apple cider doughnuts, we have used Oatly Barista oat milk, but you can use any milk alternative you prefer. What I would bear in mind is how the milk can affect the tasting profile of the vegan apple cider doughnuts. But you will need to be the judge of that!

Shaping the vegan apple cider doughnuts.

One of the things we found difficult was shaping the vegan apple cider doughnuts. Not because we’re impaired in any way, but because the dough itself was pretty soft and a bit on the sticky side. Which, let me tell you, it’s never a bad thing! With enough flour on your counter and on top of the dough, you’ll be able to cut the rounds and inside holes. But, are you team cookie cutter or are you team doughnut cutter?

We used cookie cutters for the big, main round of the vegan apple cider doughnuts, while for the small ones we made it using our fingers. You might find it easier by using a doughnut cutter, but we do not own one – yet. I am sure that would make it extremely easier, plus I love a good kitchen gadget! Once you have cut the round and created the hole, place the newly formed doughnut on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and set it aside. The doughnuts will need to rise a little longer before you can fry them and enjoy them!

In the long run, I am planning to get a doughnut cutter, mainly because I do feel like it could be useful for other preparations too. From biscuits to bread rolls (not bagels!), I am sure I will be able to find as many uses as humanly possible. If anything, I do strongly believe for the cutter to look cute – and that is enough for me.

Storage and other notes on the vegan apple cider doughnuts.

We all know it, a doughnut is beautiful as it comes off the fryer. Fight me on this if you can. I have to admit we did not keep these vegan apple cider doughnuts long enough to see how they would do on day two or three. But, if kept in a proper airtight container, you will most definitely be able to keep them for day two pretty good. 

Worried about the sugar in these vegan apple cider doughnuts? I am sorry to say that storing the doughnuts will get the sugar to melt into the dough. But fear not, you can simply roll them in some extra sugar and cinnamon if you want to serve them looking tip-top!

Fire safety.

While I know we are all aware of the effects of boiling liquid, I want to make a quick note on boiling oil. Please, please – be very careful when handling hot oil. Make sure kids and pets are not around when frying, whether that is those donuts or anything else. It is not safe, and I cannot recommend this enough. Lock yourself in the kitchen, send them all off to another room and make sure you are extremely careful yourself. 

Yes, this might sound insane, but I rather come through as that than not add this little disclaimer here. If you have a professional fryer machine, do feel free to use that. If you are more traditional like we are, then arm yourself with all you might need. And if the oil has ended up splashing you, other than just using cold water, have some burns cream on hand. If you have none, remember that toothpaste does help too with this! I use a little blob of our toothpaste to help my burn dry out quickly. This is something you always have on hand, so you are very welcome indeed!

And it’s the end of this recipe for vegan apple cider doughnuts.

Will you be making these vegan apple cider doughnuts any time soon? We’d love to hear what you think of them! We’ve made vegan apple cider doughnuts twice already, you will be dreaming of them as you eat them! If you don’t trust me, then try them. You will definitely regret not doing this earlier!

If you fancy a few more fall recipes aside from these vegan apple cider doughnuts, why not check this pumpkin gnocchi recipe out? Or even the pumpkin pie pancakes – these are pretty brilliant too. And because fall it’s brilliant, as much as these vegan apple cider doughnuts, we also have these recipes to check out:

• a beautiful pumpkin fall salad, to die for;
• a butternut squash pasta with crispy bacon;
• this heart-warming sausage & chorizo casserole;
• apple cider vinegar mocktail with raspberries;
• the most traditional apple pie;
• and last, this beautiful chocolate pecan pie;
• these pumpkin madeleines which are also super easy to make;
• apple fizz mocktail, perfect to welcome the season;
• caramelised apples for a sweet treat;
• this pumpkin cold foam, so you can make it at home as well and avoid Starbucks;
• these pumpkin pie spice pancakes are absolutely delicious all year round anyway;
• let’s go savoury with a pumpkin & chorizo soup for winter, the perfect dish;
• these easy & vegan pumpkin brownies;
• green apple mocktail for a kick;
• delicious & not so difficult (albeit lengthy) pumpkin cheesecake donuts;
• the most amazing and easy pumpkin brioche which can also be turned into a fantastic & easy pumpkin brioche french toast;
• the most delicious pumpkin gnocchi for good measure;
• a lovely pumpkin spice latte too.

And if all else fails, stay tuned for some extra fall recipes coming. We have planned some very nice ones for the coming weeks and it would be sad to not see them being made! If you love pumpkin, butternut squash and similar, stay tuned.

Pin these vegan apple cider doughnuts!